Medicare: A Vitally Important Program for Women

We’ve heard a lot of talk in the news lately about women’s health and a lot of talk about the Medicare program, but these things aren’t mutually exclusive. Medicare is a vitally important program for older women and preserving Medicare means preserving women’s health and economic well-being.

Women make up over half of Medicare beneficiaries and nearly two-thirds of beneficiaries over age 80. But it isn’t just the makeup of the program that makes Medicare so important to women. Older women also have other unique health and financial needs that mean they rely on the Medicare program more heavily than older men. Women have greater health care needs in their old age, as they live longer than men and are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions. Nationally, 49% of women with Medicare report having 3 or more chronic conditions compared to just 38% of men.

Additionally, older women are more likely to be poor and have trouble affording necessary health care, meaning that the financial security the Medicare program provides is especially important to them. In 2010, the average annual income for women 65 and older was $15,072, much lower than elderly men’s average income of $25,704. Additionally, because of their lower income, millions of women with Medicare are also “dually eligible” for Medicaid – meaning they qualify for and receive both. Women make up 62% of people who receive both Medicare and Medicaid and these women are significantly more likely to have multiple chronic conditions than the general Medicare population.

If you are not currently a Medicare beneficiary, it is likely that your mother or grandmother is, and you will probably be on Medicare at some point in your lifetime. So, isn’t it worth taking the time to learn more about Medicare? Go check out our new fact sheet to get even more information.